If you believe that you are invisible in the workplace, then you will be.
If you believe you are visible, then you will be.
I don’t mean to be flippant about such a painful issue for so many, especially women who struggle to find their voice in companies dominated by men. I used to feel invisible too and it totally sucked.
What I realized is that visibility is a choice - a choice you make by owning your own self-worth.
I know, you’re thinking, Lynn, self-worth doesn’t just happen by magically snapping your fingers or waving Harry Potter's wand.
Trust me, as a recovering wallflower who spent years draped in an invisibility cloak, I know your pain.
The good news is, I found a remedy.
If you follow these simple steps, you will build the kind of confidence that will have people asking for your input. You will naturally project the kind of strong presence that commands attention.
Practice these things as you move through your workdays, and one day - presto - the invisibility cloak will disappear.
1. Slow down, take some deep breaths, and listen before you speak. Trust your senses and speak from an authentic place.
2. Offer acknowledgment to others for the things that are working well or they did right. When you offer positive feedback, they will automatically feel seen and supported and will begin to trust you as an ally. Acknowledge yourself too. One easy way is to look yourself in the mirror and say something like "You rocked it today" or You really made a difference today" or "I acknowledge you for speaking up!"
3. Get a buddy - If you’re on the shy side like me and have difficulty being heard in meetings, have a work buddy raise their hand to let the group know that you have something to say. Do that for one another. It’s much easier to speak up for someone else than it is for yourself. This is truly what it means to have somebody’s back.
In the end, visibility is all about feeling worthy. With confidence in yourself and what you have to say, you will naturally become more open, the protective barriers fall away and your words will flow like melted butter.
Abracadabra! Be yourself. Communicate from that place, and you’ll be amazed at what happens -:)
#selfworth #confidence #invisibility #communication #introvert